Nonreemptying bottle



May 31, 1938. L. L. LEWIS I NONREEMPTYING BOTTLE 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 19:57

.lesiar L. LEM 1'5 May 31, 1938. 1.1.. LEWIS NONREEMPTYING BOTTLE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 55 Les'z sr' L. LEW E Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES F FFICE Lester L. Lewis, Cabot, Pa., assignor to LewritchReceptacle Corporation of Pennsylvania,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application August 12, 1937, Serial No. 158,789

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers of .the type designed to prevent misrepresentation regarding the contents and as such is in the form of a non refillable receptacle.

In the art to which the present invention relates efiorts have been popularly -made to prevent the refilling of receptacles, such as bottles, in order to avoid the possibility of either the oiiering of a spurious substitute or the illegal mar- 10 keting of a refilled bottle or other receptacle.

Quite extensive efiorts have, accordingly, been exerted in the direction of preventing the refilling of bottles and like receptacles, and containers and such receptacles have come to be commonly is known as non-refillable bottles even though it is well known that it is practically impossible to actually prevent refilling because of the advance that has been made in the welding of glass by which it is possible to either remove the bottom of a glass receptacle and re-weld it in a manner not observable, or it is possible to drill through an appropriate part of the Wall of the receptacle and after filling weld the opening thus formed in a not readily detectable manner.

It is, therefore, not sufficient to provide means to prevent liquid being introduced into a bottle or other receptacle through the opening from which liquid is intended to be discharged. Accordingly, the present invention provides the 30 novel combination of means for preventing the refilling of a receptacle through the port or opening through which its contents is intended to be .regularly discharged with means for preventing discharge of the contents of the same receptacle,

35 if the receptacle be refilled by any means after it shall have been completely discharged through the regular discharge opening.

In other words, the novel idea of the present invention is directed to preventing discharge of 49 the contents of a receptacle after the receptacle has once been emptied rather than, or supplemental to, the eiiort to prevent refilling, so that thepresent invention may be tersely described as a combination of parts providing a non-re-empty- 45 able receptacle. 1

With this and more detailed objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention includes means in combination with a receptacle, to control the 50 once emptying of the contents of a filled receptacle, and thereafter prevents a second emptying thereof, unless accompanied by such breakage as to plainly indicate the fact of the second filling.

55 The invention further comprises a control of the measuring type for governing the discharge of the contents of a receptacle and means cooperating therewith ior precluding further discharge after an amount has been discharged substantially equal to the capacity of the receptacle.

The invention also includes in greater detail in such an arrangement means for preventing repetition of the measuring operation or restoration thereof to a condition enabling such repetition.

The invention also comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a structure embodying the features of the present invention, parts of the receptacle being broken away for the saving of space;

Figure 2 is a complete section through the said parts taken on substantially, the same plane as the plane of the section of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are horizontal cross sections taken substantially on the planes indicated respectively by lines 3-3, 44, 5--5 and 6-6 of Figure 2 and looking downward, the parts being in the non-discharging position or position for filling the discharge tube;

Figures 7, 8, and 9 are similar cross sections on the same planes as seen respectively in Figures 3, 4, and 5, with the parts set to the discharge position Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a slightly modified embodiment;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another modification;

Figures 12, 13, and 14 are transverse, horizontal sections taken respectively on the planes indicated by lines l2l2, l3l3, and iil4 of Figure 11; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a modified form of the bottle.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, I indicates a bottle or other container or receptacle having an appropriate discharge port or orifice A5 usually delineated by a neck or tubular extension 2 of the receptacle 5. A discharge outlet nozzle 3 preferably leads laterally from the tubular extension 2 for directing liquid discharged from the neck 2. Seated within the neck 2 and closing the same is a stopper controlling thedischarge of liquid from container l and precluding refilling of the container through the said neck. The said stopper consists of a tubular housing or jacket 3 arranged within the neck 2 and snugly fitting the same throughout a substantial portion of its length from its outer end inward. The

, passageway of the neck 2 is tapered preferably 'such engagement is susceptible of variation, but 7 from its outer or upper end toward its inner 'end or end integral with the receptacle I, and the taper preferably extends throughout that portion snugly engaged by the housing, 4, "as clearly seen in Figure 1, and the housing is correspondingly tapered through, that portion of the housing which snugly engages the surrounding wall of the neck 2. Of course, the extent of it is preferablethat the same shall extend past the outlet nozzle 3 and a suflicient distance at each side of the same to insure against the possie bility of leakage either from the bottle l to the nozzle 3 or conversely.

Below or inward of the tapered portion or the neck 2 with which the housing 4 snugly The housing or jacket 4 isconstructed to be locked engages, the neck is provided with an enlargement afiording an annular chamber 6 surrounding the inner or lower portion of the housing 4.

to the neck 2 so that; after in'sertion' of the housing, it can not be removed. This c-an be accomplished in any of various ways by the proivision of an appropriate elastic or resilient detent adaptedito be sprung into place but incapable of being removed without breaking-some 'part of the assembled structure. Such a detent is shown in the drawings andcconsists, of a split washer 'l seated in an annular groove'8 in the housing or jacket 4 and also seated in an encircling groove 9 formed in the inner surface 1 portion of the neck 2. Obviously, the split washer- I will, in operation, be sprung'into the groove 8 and then the housing or jacket 4 inserted longi- ,tudi-nally m the neck 2 until the ring 1 reaches which, because of its function, may be considered:

the groove 9 where it will spring out into' a seated po'sitionin the groove 8 while having a substantial portion still remaining in the groove 8'. Thus, the housing or jacket 4' can not be re-. moved; from the bottle neck without breakage of the parts. 7 V

Within the housing 4 is arranged; a shell 10- afdischarge tube 'or measuring receptacle. The

shell. IDis snugly nested in and extends for the greater part oi the, length of i the housing or r jacket 4.

A'fport of slot-like form l'l 'isprovided; through the" wall: of jacket or housing 4 in register'with the nozzle 3, and the lower portion of the hous ihg4 is' providedg with a number ofslots/or ports 12- opening] into the chamber-f6. It followsxthatif, the shell: to were not present liquid-could; fiovvreadily from the container I through the,

7 slots t2 and either out through the slot ll, or

through the 'open end of the jacket or housing- 4; but the shell 10 closes the outer end of hous-fl 'ing- 4-"a'nd at times closes the slot HEY that is,

when theparts are in the non-discharging positionias seen inFigm es 2-and-3J a The shell I is, however, provided with a series 1 of ports or slots [3 in the zone of [the slot ll and another series of'slots or ports M in the zone of the slots l2. The slots 14, however, are

' distributed angularly about the shell H] to be spaced. approximately 45 from an alinement'with .theslot' l3. The relative location -of the slots l3'with respect to the slots [4 will be readily apparent from a comparison of Figures '7 and 9, and is also seen inv Figure 2. Thus, when the slots 14 are in register with the slots [2, as seen in Figures. 2 and 5, the slots l3 will be out of register with the slot II, and, on the other hand, when any one of the slots I3 is in register with the slot I l the several slots I4 will be out of reg ister with all of the slots l2, as seen in Figure 9.

Thus, to pour liquid from the container [through- 7 the spout or nozzle 3, the liquid must first enter the discharge tube or shell I0 through the slots- I4 from the slots I2, and then the shell must be advanced angularly approximately 45 until one of the slots I3 arrives at registration with the slot II, whereby the supply from the chamber 6 is cut off from the discharge. tube In, and the contents of that tube alone'can be discharged through the nozzle 3. V

Tocontrol the possible relationships of the discharge tube or shell Ill and the housing'4, the housing 4 has its lower end closed by a pref- 'erably integral solid portion l which is formed with an axial internally-threaded passageway l6 through which is threaded a stem I! carried by and preferably formed integral with the bottom l8 of the discharge tube or shell Ill. The bot-' "tom l8 seals the lower end of the tube-Ill,

The upper end of the shell [0 is preferably closed by an appropriate cover or cap [9 that is formed integral with or otherwise welded or sealed to the walls of the shell ID for sealing the chamber thereof against; access. The thread ed stem I! m addition to having the regular thread spiral 20 is formed with :longitudinal grooves 21 extending along the stem and inter- 6; and the spring 26 stresses the, pawl into such' engaging position. A cap. 23 is fixed to the lower end of the housing 4, surrounds; the stem t1, and' encloses; the pawl 22 .To the lower end of the stem IT is. fixeda stop 24 which is. merely anenlargement of knob or button-like form located; to come in contact with the lower end of the cap 23 and thereby prevent further threading movement of the stem llj upward.

The several parts; with the exceptiorr of the spring washer l and the pivot forthe pawl 22,

are formedofglass orother appropriate ceramic material, and so, far as possible each-part is eitherorigi-nally formedintegral or glass welded-i, For instance, the cap or cover 129518 die cast in-- tegral; with the shell l0, and the closure orhead l8. ofstem I1 is either formed. integral: with, or

It is preferable to have either the part I191 or; the part l8; originally, formed separate and' sub-- sequently anchored tothe shell [0 forconvenience nally made; are connected" in the course of assembly tocbe asnearly as possible integral so that access can not be had or, improper use made'ofi' the parts without such injury thereto as to indl'-- welded to the surrounding: walls oi theshell I 01;

. 6'0) of'manufacture; but these parts, however origi-i cate thelack of genuinenessof an altered product.-

The stem I;|, whichis also of glass, has the knob or step 24; also welded onto its lower end. Of

course,wherethe difliculties of welding preclude,

cementing may be resortedto, butthe welding is preferred as more effectively dependable to avoid undisclosed tampering.

It will be noted, as seen in Figure- 6, that the engaging end portion of the pawl'22 is shaped to present an abutting shoulder tothe thread projections or ends along each of the grooves 2|, while the pawl presents a rounded portion in the opposite direction, so that the stem I1 is free to be rotated in a contra-clockwise direction. During such rotation, the pawl 22 successively swings upon its pivot out of one of the grooves 2| against the pressure of spring 26, rides across the thread segments, and drops into the next groove 2|, and so on, as the stem 23 is rotated. The thread 20 is of the righthand variety so that, should the stem ll be revolved clockwise instead of contraclockwise, the stem would be caused, owing to its thread engagement with the base or bottom l5 of housing 4, tomove inward or downward; but the presence of the pawl 22 and its action with respect to the thread segments precludes the possibility of any such movement. Pawl 22, therefore, permits only such rotation of the stem I! as will cause the stem to travel outward through the bottom |5 of housing 4.

Of course, when the receptacle of bottle I is first filled and the housing 4 and its carried parts are inserted, the stem I! will be in its lowermost position, and the stop 24 is located to contact with the cap 23 in timed relation to the exhaustion of the contents of the bottle to avoid any appreciable further movement of the parts after exhaustion of the contents of the receptacle I. Furthermore, the stop 24 is located with respect to the threads such that, when the pawl 22 drops into the last groove 2| which it can engage as the stop 24 contacts, the cap 23 and slot l3 will preferably be out of alinement with the slot Of course, the grooves 2| are located relative to the location of the slots l3, l4 and I2 such that, when the pawl 22 engages any one of the grooves 2| where the slots l3 and H are in registration, the next step bringing the pawl into engagement with the next groove 2|, causes the shell ID to have such angular advance as to bring the slots 4 and I2 into registration, so that the slot is closed, and these successive relationships are maintained by the successive step-s represented by the succeeding grooves 2| in their relation to pawl 22 as the stem I1 is revolved.

To avoid delay in the rate of discharge from the discharge tube or shell I0, it is desirable to provide means for admitting air to the interior of the shell II! when liquid is to be delivered therefrom. For this purpose, a preferably minute port 2! is formed through the neck 2 and through the housing 4, preferably at a point diametrically opposite from the nozzle 3. The shell It] is provided in line with each of the slots |3 with a series of miniature ports 28 alined vertically and spaced apart equal to the longitudinal travel of the shell Ill incident to a complete rotation or movement thereof through 360. In other words, the distance from one port 28 to the next lower port 28 of the several rows of ports below the several slots |3 is equal to the spacing of the thread helices of thread 20. Thus, when'a slot |3 comes into register with slot ll, one of the ports 28 comes into register with port 2'! and allows sufiicient admission of air to permit free discharge of the contents of the discharge tube It]. The operation should be obvious from the foregoing, but may be briefly stated, after the parts have been assembled with the receptacle filled and the closure l9 resting on the upper end of housing 4, or substantially so, to consist of turning the closure l9, which thus serves as a knob, that is in the direction which is contra-clockwise. The first tiuning movement will result in the pawl 22 rising over one of the thread segments and dropping into the next groove 2|.

The operator hearing the resulting sound will discontinue movement of the shell I 0 and either invert, or suiiiciently nearly invert, the bottle or receptacle to enable liquid to fio-w along the chamber 6 through the slots l2 and I4 and into the discharge tube |ll until it is filled. The operator then turns the knob IQ for one more click which cuts off the registration of slots 4 with slots l2, and brings a slot l3 into register with the slot II, and at the same time brings a port 28 into register with the port 21. The contents of the discharge tube may thus be freely discharged through the spout or nozzle 3. This operation may be repeated step by step until the entire contents of the bottle has been discharged, and at that time the stop 24 will either be in contact with the cap 23 or sufficiently near to the cap to preclude any appreciable introduction or removal of liquid;

It should be understood that should an operator choose at any time he can, when a slot I3 is in register with a slot pour liquid into the spout 3 sufficient for filling the discharge tube I0, and then by turning the tube Hi to the next notch and thus bringing the slots I2 and M into register, cause the thus introduced liquid to enter the receptacle I. Such an introduction of liquid, how

ever, can not be of any profit to the operator, since he has lost just that much in the longitudinal thrust of the tube Ill, which thrust is the controlling factor in emptying the receptacle. When the shell or tube II! has reached its maximum limit of longitudinal thrust there is nothing that can be done to allow the'contained liquid toescape, if there be any contained liquid. Accordingly, the length of the stem I! is preferably slightly longer and the number of available notches over which the pawl 22 may travel slightly greater than that required for theactual complete emptying of the receptacle I, so as to insure against accidental movement of the operating knob l9 having the eifect of rendering some of the original contents inaccessible.

After the bottle has once been completely emptied and the discharge tube or shell ID has reached the limit of its longitudinal travel from which it can not be backed off, any filling of the bottle as by the removal of the bottom and the re-welding of it will be of no avail, since it is not possible, having once emptied a bottle, to reempty it. Accordingly, the present invention involves not only a non-refillable receptacle in the sense in which that term is generally accepted,

but also includes the capacity to resist re-empty-' ing. Thus, refilling is effectively discouraged.

By these means not only is the public assured the possibility of marketing a receptacle bearing a revenue stamp that has once been used is destroyed.

The matter of effectiveness of construction of course possesses the possibility of some variation, but in order to insure the best results it is desirable wherever there is not an actual glass weld between two glass portions to provide a fusible cement between the separate parts that are brought together and to fuse the cement after the application. For instance, the housing 4 is preferably coated with a fusible cement especially at its outer end portion, which cement is fused after the insertion of the housing 4 in the neck 2. The relatively tapered contacting faces of the two parts insures a tight joint in the first place, and the fused cement precludes possibility ofv separation in addition to the capacity of the washer 1.

v of the genuineness of the original contents, but

Where the'operating knob or closure l 9 is formed separately from and connected to the shell I0,

' gglass'fusing is preferred; or in lieu thereof the part {I9 may have a shank extending into the upper end portionof the shell Ill and fixed thereto by the use. off usible cement fused after the insertion. The part l8 is shown as having been inserted into'and closing the lower end of the shell [0, and when thus made separate and introduced is similarly fused and anchored so as-to preclude possibility of separation during use. Likewise, the knob or' stop 24 is effectively either glass-fused orcemented with a fusing cement and fused to the stem IT. The cap 23 is similarly fixed to the'lowerend of the housing 4. It is to be noted that theicap 23 has an opening for the passage of the stem [1 only very slightly larger than the overalldiameterof the thread so that an instrument cannot'be introducedrto relea'sethe pawl 22,'even-if thebottom of the receptacle I .is removed beiorethe stop 24 has reached its seated position against the cap 23. e In Figure 10, the structure is the same as that above described "with the exception of the pawl extends downward from the bottom 18 which in its 'which is seen as a-spring 29. The other parts being identical with 'those'above described bear the same reference numerals and the same-de scription applies,"except that the spring pawl 29 isjwelded-at in the material of the'cap 23 in-' stead of being pivoted to ,thelower end of the dis charge tube. g e a I In Figures 11 to 14'; inclusive,is illustrated a .slightly'modified embodimentbf the structures above described in which the receptacle I has 1 the neck 2' provided witha spout3. A tubular housing 4' is seated in' the neck 2', and locked therein by the spring washer l seated in the grooves8' and 9. The neck z isformed'with the enlargement? providing the chamber 6'.

engagement therewith and serves as a discharge tube. 'A slot ll opens through thewall of the housing 4 to the spout 3', and a slot I2" opens through the wall of the housing 4 to the chamber 6'. A slot I3 is formed in the shell ID" to at times register with slot H", and a slot I4 is formed in the wall of the shell I0 to at times register with the slot I2. Slot 14' is diametriica-lly opposite slot 13' in shell 10', The" lower end of shell I0 is closed by an integral solid portion I:5'..having an axially arranged'threaded passageway I6 through which isthreaded the stem 1]. Stem ll' isform'ed integral'with and turn isintegral with the side walls of. the shell .10. In thisembodiment, the operating knob I9 is indicated as having the shank 19' extending into the upper end of the shell l0 and welded.

thereto in the most efiective available manner. Of course, the'housing 4' is also preferably weldieduto the 'neck"2".j The stem H1 isiprovided with the threadspiral 20 having diametrically" opposite longitudinal grooves 2| located to receive the spring pawl 22',oneend of which is free to engage the stem 11' and the other end of which is welded into thecap-23, which ca isin turn.

welded .or otherwise effectively anchored to the lower'endjof .the housing :4; "A stop or knob 24 iiswelded or otherwise effectively anchored to the stem H for limiting the extent of possible upward longitudinal movement of the stem,

prohibit'ed by the pawl 22';

downward longitudinal movement thereof being The structureseen in Figures 11 to 14 will thus be seen to be an exactuembodiment of the inven- A. shell I0 is nested in the housing 4 in leak-tight,

tion as shown and described with reference to the other figures, changed only in details of construction and differingchiefly in the fact that. c

the number of intake and discharge ports orslots for the discharge tube is varied. .By virtue of the use of only a single intake and a single discharge opening l4 and [3, the lateral extent thereof can be substantially increased as plainly seen in Figures 12 and 13, so that movement of liquid into and out of the shell [0 may be accomplished more rapidly. The bleeder port or miniature port for admitting air to the discharge tube at the time of discharge is not required in this embodiment, since the port I3 is 'suflicientl'ylarge to discharge the liquid and at the same time admit the required air after the manner of discharging liquid from theneck of an ordinary bottle.

It will be noted also that in this embodiment only two. of the.

grooves 2i are required to provide the necessary notches for the action of the pawl 22 since the e!) tube I0 is turned throughiliifii with each movement for filling or emptying. The parts being in the position seen in'Figure 11, theliquid will flow freely through the opening I'A' into the discharge tube It! when the receptacle! is *inverted or partially inverted, and thenthe operator merely gives the knob IS a sufficient turn to bring the portl3 into register with the slot Hi. -This brings the port M to a closed position at'a point V diametrically opposite the slot 12 and the liquid can be discharged from the tube I0 without any further liquid escaping from the receptacle I, k *The other parts being sufiiciently nearly identical with those above described, the balance, of

the operation and the reasons forthe constructions employed are obvious, a I

The modification'd-isclosed in Figure 13 is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2. provided with a groove. 3|, preferably located In this case, however, the housing 4 is diametrically opposite to the nozzle 3, to register with either of the diametrically opposite ports 32, which replace the series of ports 28 in theshell I0". Of course, these ports 32 :are arranged so as to register with the groove 31 when'the shell 10" is in liquid discharge position. 7 Only two of the ports I4 are employed in thisform 'of the invention; namely, the two diametrically ing of a container refers to the fact that thecontainer cannot a second time be re-emptied' through the natural or prepared orifice for emptying without some defect or alteration occurring or developing and becoming apparent showing the fact that the container has been re-filled The house 4 (or 4' or 4') may be considered a valve casing, and the shell ormeasuri-ngdischarge tube ID (or I0 or ID) may be considered a rotary valve cooperating. withits valve casing to alternately turn on and off communication with the in'terior of container [by an airj lock action, so that at no time is there direct communication from the exterior to the interior of the container, and the. successive steps of intercommunication are accompanied by propor tionally progressive movement of a stop that eventually terminates the possibility of further air-lock action of the valve. The valve can not be backed or reversed in its movement because of the action of the pawl 22, and it can not be rotated in the direction of advance because of the stop 24. While it is a fact that the valve or discharge tube 10' in thus operating does actually measure, or can be caused to measure, the quantity discharged, it is not merely a measuring device. The operator, if he chooses, can discharge less than a full tube at any time, but if he does so, he risks not being able to completely empty the bottle for lack of sufficient opportunity for movement of the stop 24. It is not possible to discharge an amount more than one full tube ID at a time. The capacity of the device, however, to thus efiect a measuring action is but an incident to its further and more important capacity to preclude discharge of more than an amount equal to the containing capacity of the receptacle I. It serves both to prevent refilling and to prevent re-emptying, so that attempts at spurious filling through other avenues than the discharge port are effectively discouraged.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having an intake and a discharge orifice, of a valve casing fixed in said receptacle, a valve rotatable in said casing and having intake and discharge ports adapted to be brought alternately into communication with the interior of the receptacle and with the exterior thereof and located to avoid.

of, a pawl pivoted to the casing and resiliently stressed into engagement with the notches formed by the intersection of the threads with said grooves, and a stop at the free end of the stem, to limit the total possible movement of said valve in the direction permitted by the action of the pawl.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an intake and a discharge orifice, of a cylindrical valve casing closed at one end and fixed in said receptacle, a valve rotatably and slidably mounted'in said casing and having intake and discharge ports adapted to be moved alternately into communication with the interior and exterior of the receptacle, said casing having its closed end located within the receptacle and provided with an axial internally screw-threaded aperture, said valve having a screw-threaded stem engaging the threads of said aperture, and a stop at the free end of the stem to limit the total possible movement of the valve in one direction axially of said casing, said stem being provided with grooves extending lengthwise thereof, a pawl pivoted in said casing, and means for holding the free end of said pawl against the grooved stem to prevent rotation of the valve in one direction.

LESTER L. LEWIS. 

